Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you." But Jesus replied, "We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came." Mark 1:35-38
Early
the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched
everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to
leave them. But he replied, "I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of
God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent." Luke 4:42-43
Meditate
on Jesus’ dedication to prayer—communication with His Heavenly Father.
Did
you ever wonder why Jesus came to earth? He tells us in the scripture
passage today, one of the reasons was that He must preach the Good News of the
Kingdom of God. Preach. Often, preaching involves teaching, admonishing
or correcting, encouraging, and providing hope. Hope that is definitely what
Jesus brought to earth. Remember that when He came here, the Israelites were
under harsh Roman rule actually, oppression. They lived in fear. On top of that,
the Jewish religious leaders imposed strict adherence to the Jewish laws. Life did
not provide freedom, fun, or fortune.
Seek
the Lord, and you will find Him, just as David advised his son, Solomon. How do
we “seek” the Lord? You won’t find Him under a rock, behind a cloud, or probably
not hanging out at your favorite gym—although Christ is within all believers,
so you could possibly find Him anywhere. The most likely place to “find” Him in
in scripture—using the Bible translation of your choice.
And Solomon, my son, learn to know
the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole
heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan
and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he
will reject you forever. 1
Chronicles 28:9
How are
you seeking Him today? What passage of scripture have you read and meditated on?
Consider your own prayer time. When, where, how? Like Jesus, did you go
somewhere alone and pray early in the day? Did you pray…to the Father…to Jesus,
the Son…or to the Holy Spirit? To whom of these three are you most comfortable
praying? Of course, Jesus prayed specifically to the Father, but we have the
option of praying to any or all of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit is always with
us, and actually intercedes for us to the Father. Just seek first the Kingdom
of God—just as Jesus preached. The Kingdom of God is within us—it is Jesus, our
Lord and Savior. He is the Good News.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all
else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33
Pray for
God to reveal the Kingdom of God to you—and then share it with everyone around
you.
Prayer
– Lord Jesus, thank you for revealing this simple truth to us. You are the Way,
the Truth, and the Life. I praise Your name forever.
Verse
of Salvation ~ But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness
in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is
great!" Psalm
40:16
Friday’s
Feast at the King’s Table
 |
| Grapes hanging in my yard! Pure goodness on the vine! |
The
seven foods that are special in Israel are wheat, barley, grapes, figs,
pomegranates, olives, and dates (or date honey). Studies have been done on
these seven fruits, and they have been found to have compounds that give them
healing qualities. The power is in the seeds—so don’t choose seedless grapes!
Grapes
go all the way back to Noah, when he planted a vineyard after he got off the
ark. Purple and red grapes are rich in an antioxidant known as anthocyanina,
which will cross the blood-brain barrier, so they are known to protect the
brain and spinal nerves from free radical damage. To prevent any damage at the
molecular level in our bodies is a good thing, especially as we age. Grapes
benefits start early. They fight tooth decay, stop viruses, and have strong
cancer-fighting elements. Additionally, another phytonutrient in grapes has
been found that helps protect the heart and blood vessels, decreasing the stickiness
of platelets, boosting the good cholesterol, blocking the bad cholesterol, and
decreasing inflammation. Sounds great to
me! Please, pass the grapes!
In
an ancient recipe, grape honey is made using four cups of washed grapes, stems
removed, cook with one-half cup water for twenty minutes or until thickened. No
sugar added. Strain off the grape seeds. Place in sterilized jars. Refrigerate.
Serve on whole-grain bread, crackers, or with unsweetened Greek yogurt. Enjoy
the fruit—whether it is from Israel or grown here in the United States. As Moses
wrote…be sure to praise the Lord for the bounty He has provided.
©
2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights
reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless
otherwise noted.
New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream,
Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com
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